“Build it and they will drum.” Dedicated to research, study and comparisons of field drums. Our purpose is to collect information about historical U.S. drums (manufacture, preservation, conservancy, repair, market) for use by scholars, collectors and others. Photographs of drums, and anything related, together with informative narratives, are welcome. Interested readers will find archived postings a good resource. Reach us at BlogMaster@FieldDrums.com.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

eBayer money4u860 ( 64) is offering what looks like a piece of living room decoration as eBay item no. 320433612013. Unfortunately, the item is described as possibly being a CW era drum which, in my humble opinion, it decidedly is not.

Here are a few things "wrong' with the drum:

1. Dimensions: 25" x 11". The playing surface is about as big as a drum pad. Enough said?2. Emblazonment: Looks too clean and modern, possibly a decal.3. Finish: Reflected light shows the shell to have a textured satin-like woven surface, somewhat akin to cardboard.4. Snare Head: There is none. It looks like a piece of wood that has been drilled for an electric cord, perhaps for a lamp.5. Snares: There are none, and the bottom counterhoops do not exhibit a cut-out.

THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE CIVIL WAR ERA MARCHING BAND DRUM FROM 9TH REG. WITH GREAT DETAIN IN SUPERB CONDITION I DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT DRUMS YET THERE ARE MANY PICTURE FOR A PERSON OF MORE KNOWLEDGE OR INTEREST TO VIEW THE DRUM IS 25 INCHES TALL AND 11 INCHES ROUND IT HAD GREAT AMERICANA SYMBLE ON THE SIDE IT HAS RIVITS AND LATCHES ROPE AND LEATHER PIECES I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS A REPRODUCTION OR ORIGINAL IT IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF I HAVE NOT EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT I WILL EXCEPT ANY BEST OFFER THAT IS REASONABLE PREFERABLY BY A PERSON WHO KNOWS THE REAL VALUE I SEEN DRUMS WORST THAN THIS ON EBAY FOR OVER 3000 DOLLARS SO I WILL LIST MINE STARING AT 999.00 WITH OPTION OF BEST OFFER THANKS FOR BIDDING ON ALL MY AUCTIONS AND BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE.

In my opinion, this is not a musical instrument, merely a piece of decoration meant to look like a drum.

2 Comments:

This is not a drum. It is a decoration. I have seen these at gift shops and boutiques, used for their Americana displays. The artwork is printed fabric, glued to the cylinder. Both "heads" are plywood discs. this allow the items to be elevated (as evidenced by the discolorations on the bottom. The top would likely support a floral arrangement. Note that the counterhoops and flesh hoops are one piece. There is no separate flesh hoop, the single hoop is painted red with a white band across the bottom, to emulate the flesh hoop. This is best seen in the 5th photo. There you can see the overlapped seam of the "counterhoop," continues into the "flesh hoop."I do not trust sellers that "play dumb." The description may be genuine, from the viewpoint of ignorance; but it is more likely to be manipulative. The buyer assumes the seller is ignorant of the value and hopes to capitalize; only to discover he's been had.

This is definitely not a drum! It is a 20" end table built by Noble & Cooley Co as a piece of furniture in the 1960s and 1970s. The eagle pattern was air brushed on using 6 stencils. The company had a line of drum motif items that included stools, tables, lamps, ice buckets and waste baskets etc.

Noble & Cooley was a provider of drums to the union army during the civil war and is still in operation under the guidance of direct descendants of Mr. Cooley. Founded as a toy drum manufacturer in 1854, the product mix now is mostly high end musical instruments for recording artists and studios

Inspirational

The drums on these pages were here long before we arrived and, with care, should be around long after we've departed. We have the privilege of taking care of them for a short period. As such, we are self-appointed caretakers of a small slice of our
country's rich heritage. By sharing knowledge and information, we will all be better suited to discharge our responsibilities with skill and good judgment. Ellis R. Mirsky, Blogmaster@FieldDrums.com